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IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa City officials are considering new rules to deal with people who loiter in the city's pedestrian mall.

The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports there has been a mixed response to the proposals, which the City Council will discuss Tuesday night.

Proposals include banning lying on benches between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. and restrictions on lying on planters that hold greenery. Another rule would limit the ability to keep personal items in public spaces.

Supporters say the new rules are needed to deal with increased loitering on the north edge of the ped mall.

Nancy Bird, executive director of the Iowa City Downtown District, says some people loitering have been increasingly aggressive.

Johnson County Supervisor Rod Sullivan says officials should hire a social worker to deal with vagrancy problems.